Best Cell Phone Coverage 2022

There are three major wireless networks in the United States battling it out for 4G and 5G coverage superiority. As it stands in 2022, here's how the rankings look for the best 4G coverage and best 5G coverage.

Best 4G coverage

1. Verizon: 70% 4G coverage
2. AT&T: 68% 4G coverage
3. T-Mobile: 62% 4G coverage

Best 5G coverage

1. T-Mobile: 53% 5G coverage
2. AT&T: 29% 5G coverage
3. Verizon: 12% 5G coverage

At the beginning of 2022, all the major wireless providers made announcements to significantly ramp up 5G coverage so this data may change as the year continues.

To determine which network provides the most reliable coverage across the country, we looked at coverage data compiled by WhistleOut.¹

Verizon Wireless offers by far the most 4G coverage in the country. If you constantly find yourself without a signal, Verizon will be your best friend.

Verizon Wireless covers 4G service for 70% of the US.¹ On average, Verizon users report getting 4G coverage 95.9% of the time while using Verizon’s network.² Depending upon where you are in the country, your coverage will probably feel even more reliable than that. The only pockets of America you need to worry about are more rural areas in the Southwest, Midwest, and Northwest.

If you live close to any big cities in those areas, you should expect super reliable coverage. Depending on your service location, you may be covered by 5G. Verizon's 5G coverage falls behind T-Mobile and AT&T at just 12% coverage.¹

We know that Verizon Wireless offers the best 4G service, but what about the network’s data speeds? Verizon clocks in around 30.2 Mbps. T-Mobile currently owns the fastest data speeds at 54.1 Mbps, and AT&T comes in second at 35.3 Mbps.

Instagram stories, YouTube videos, and online gaming apps should all pull up quickly and smoothly on Verizon’s network.

Wouldn’t it be great if Verizon somehow managed to have the best coverage and cheap prices at the same time? Well, it doesn’t. Verizon plans are some of the most expensive phone plans out there.

Since Verizon serves up the most reliable coverage in the country, getting on its network feels pricey. It’s kind of like eating at the fanciest restaurant in town—you have to pay an arm and a leg, but damn it if the food’s not delicious.

Here’s how the pricing breaks down for Verizon data plans:

Verizon plans get expensive fast, jumping up to $90 for its 5G Get More plan. You can find much cheaper wireless plans with unlimited data on different networks, but you won’t enjoy the same coverage reliability.

Alternative carriers on Verizon’s network

If Verizon’s plans cost a little too much, you can always get on Verizon’s network through an MVNO.

MVNO stands for mobile virtual network operator. Translation: alternative carriers that piggyback on other wireless networks to provide cell phone service. MVNO carriers can charge lower rates for cell phone plans, but the tradeoff is your data and coverage can slow down in congested areas.

An MVNO basically feels kind of like getting the cheap seats at a really expensive concert—you get to see the show, but you don’t always get the best view.

You can use an MVNO mobile provider that works on Verizon’s network, but you’ll occasionally run into deprioritization. In other words, your data speeds and coverage could drop in more congested areas because the Verizon network gives priority to Verizon customers.

Our favorite Verizon MVNO is easily Visible Wireless, which offers an unlimited data plan for $45 on Verizon’s network. But really, you can’t go wrong with any of the Verizon MVNOs on the table below.

AT&T pulls ahead of T-Mobile in terms of 4G coverage at 68% and is actually close behind Verizon. AT&T's 5G coverage also comes in second at 29%, right behind T-Mobile.

As it stands right now, AT&T's 4G network covers 68% of the country, and AT&T users report enjoying reliable coverage 92.9% of the time.¹ It’s about a 1–2% coverage drop from Verizon to AT&T, making the coverage difference virtually unrecognizable for most of the country. The difference between the two providers basically comes down to rural coverage. Verizon covers a few more remote areas that AT&T does not, but the coverage should generally feel the same in the vast majority of the country.

According to our data, AT&T users average 35.3 Mbps download speeds. It's a few notches above Verizon (30.2) and a few notches below what T-Mobile (54.1 Mbps) offer, but AT&T's data speeds are still pretty reliable. I'm an active AT&T user and very rarely encounter dead spots with my data speeds. For reference, here are the average download speeds across the three major wireless networks.

With an average download speed of 35.3 Mbps, you should have no problem pulling up YouTube streams, Twitter videos, or Instagram stories. You should also be able to download apps without a problem.

Most of the country is covered, but you should still look at AT&T’s coverage map. For example, if you live in Idaho or Montana, you should really double-check the coverage map and make sure where you live is covered. 

AT&T offers a bevy of data plans that you can choose from. Recently, AT&T cut some of its free streaming and TV perks, but AT&T mobile still offers plans on a reliable network.

AT&T data plans certainly fall on the pricier end of the spectrum, but you can get on AT&T’s service network through an MVNO as well.

Going with an AT&T MVNO can cut your wireless bill in half. Your service won’t be quite as reliable on an MVNO, but you shouldn’t see too dramatic of a difference. In particular, we are fans of PureTalk USA and Cricket Mobile.

T-Mobile’s 4G coverage falls behind what Verizon and AT&T offer, but T-Mobile makes up for it in other places, like data speed and 5G coverage.

It’s an 8% drop-off from Verizon’s 70% 4G service coverage to T-Mobile’s 62% coverage¹—but that’s not how the users see it.

T-Mobile finishes last in the 4G coverage experience for users, but it's not that far behind:

T-Mobile is only 0.5% less reliable than Verizon according to users but Verizon covers 8% more territory in the US.¹ That’s because the main difference between T-Mobile coverage and Verizon coverage falls under rural areas. Verizon covers more of the remote spaces of the country, while T-Mobile specializes in coverage in more urban areas.

Where T-Mobile lacks on 4G coverage, it's made up for with great 5G coverage. T-Mobile has 53% 5G nationwide coverage which is 24% more than AT&T and 41% more 5G coverage than Verizon.

Though T-Mobile comes last in 4G coverage, T-Mobile’s network comes in first place for data upload and download speeds. This is a big deal for any of you who happen to post Instagram stories, Twitter videos, or YouTube videos. Likewise, it's a big deal for those of you who watch Instagram stories, Twitter videos, and YouTube videos. So, really, all of us.

Check out T-Mobile coming out on top for upload wireless speeds.

The average T-Mobile user gets an 10.5 Mbps upload speed and 54.1 Mbps download speed, making it the fastest wireless option out there.

T-Mobile’s coverage gets much more spotty as you venture out into the more rural areas of the country. For folks who spend a lot of time in the great outdoors, you might run into dead spots on T-Mobile’s network

If you hail from the great states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, or Nebraska we would say to avoid T-Mobile altogether. You’re bound to run into dead zones frequently, and that’s annoying.

The most obvious choice for getting on T-Mobile’s network is, well, T-Mobile itself. T-Mobile’s unlimited data plans pack a lot of value, but they aren’t exactly dirt cheap.

You can always go the budget route and opt for an MVNO that uses T-Mobile’s network. There are tons of options for MVNOs on T-Mobile’s network, but Mint Mobile would be our top recommendation.

If you pick the provider with the best 4G coverage (Verizon), you have to cope with its higher-than-average price. In other words, you pay for what you get and you get what you pay for.

To recap, here are the rankings for best 4G and 5G coverage providers in the country:

Best 4G cell phone coverage by carrier

1. Verizon: 70% 4G coverage
2. AT&T: 68% 4G coverage
3. T-Mobile: 62% 4G coverage

Best 5G cell phone coverage by carrier

1. T-Mobile: 53% 5G coverage
2. AT&T: 29% 5G coverage
3. Verizon: 12% 5G coverage

Whether you live in a rural area or a more urban area, coverage is a big deal. You never know when you’ll need to get a text out or make a call. Just think how many horror movies could’ve been prevented with good coverage.

How has your experience been with these providers? Any horror stories or tales of redemption? Let us know in the comments below!

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